Wartsila technology to provide cleaner energy to a city utility in US

Finnish Wartsila will supply the generating equipment for an 18 MW expansion to an existing power plant in New Mexico, utilising reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) technology, it said on February 22.

The plant will operate on natural gas fuel, and will replace lost generating capacity following the closure of a coal-fired power plant and also provide dispatchable power for the utility and their power needs. The contract is with the City of Farmington and was booked as order intake in November 2023.

The two Wartsila 34SG gas-fuelled engines selected for this project are also capable of operating on biogas, synthetic methanol and hydrogen blend. They require minimal water consumption, which is an important consideration in areas such as New Mexico where high ambient temperatures can be expected and water is scarce.

The Wartsila equipment for the project is expected to be delivered by January 2025. When operational, the plant will provide sufficient power to deliver electricity to approximately 14,000 homes.